Islamabad, 13 Oct 2023: In response to a story published by the English daily DAWN, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has issued a statement on Friday, dismissing the report, which claimed that 1.3 million people will be rendered unable to vote, labeling it as contrary to facts and based on inaccurate information, as per details from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MOIB). The ECP elucidated its voter registration protocol and affirmed that it is executing measures to ensure all eligible voters can enlist, contradicting the implications of the aforementioned news report.

The contested news story drew critical attention to the issue of voter eligibility and registration. The ECP, addressing the concerns raised by the DAWN report, clarified that voter registration adheres to either the permanent or current address specified on the Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC), disassociating it from population statistics data. It articulated the distinction between census data and voter registration, emphasizing that while the former is determined by physical residence, the latter abides by the CNIC address.

In an additional effort to secure the registration of all eligible voters, the ECP revealed that it has “de-frozen” the electoral lists, a move to continue inclusive voter registration until the 25th of this month. Furthermore, it informed that data of 800,000 CNIC holders was procured from the National Database and Registration Authority at the month’s commencement. Assuring comprehensive registration, the ECP affirmed that individuals who obtain their CNICs until the 25th will be duly registered as voters.

The ECP’s clarification seeks to nullify concerns about potential voter exclusion in the upcoming electoral process, whilst also refuting the accuracy of DAWN’s reporting on the matter. The situation underscores the vitality of transparent communication between electoral bodies and the public, especially in the context of ensuring democratic participation through voting.